Fish and tackle basket



1937. w. E. SMITH ET AL FISH AND TACKLE BASKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24, 1936 jrwc wto n 4415771} 7%, I a lfl;

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o a o o b o I I w. E. SMITH ET AL 2,098,636

FISH AND TACKLE BASKET Filed July 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 9, 1937 PATENT OFFICE FISH AND TACKLE BASKET William E. Smith and lf vine J. Focht, Wellsboro,

Application July 24;; 1936, Serial No. 92,460 '7 Claims. (CI. 43-31) Our invention relates to improvements in combined flshand tackle containers for fishermen.

Briefly stated, the invention has for its primary object to provide a device for this purpose which not only eliminates the necessity for carrying a creel and separate tackle box, but also provides a bait carrying compartment,--the nature and arrangement of the various parts making for the provision of a very compact and convenient arrangement of storage areas for tackle elements of diiferent size, entirely separate and apart from the storage space for the fish caught, and which furthermore provides means whereby different ones of said tackle storage compartments will be independently accessible.

More specifically it is an' object of the invention to provide a device for the purpose stated which may be made of either still or flexible watertacklefcompartments, and which partition carries is illustrated in'the accompanying drawings; the

' eonstruction, combination and arrangement of proofed fibrous material and incorporates partitioning means which when secured inplace provides a front tackle compartment and a rear fish compartment, the latter having its back wall shaped to more or less conform to the curve of the users body when hung against his side from the shoulder; and which partitioning means maintains at least the front tackle storage part of the device in predetermined shape, besldes dividing the same into a plurality oftackle-receiving spaces.

Additionally the invention aims to furnish a device for the purpose stated which not only includes a plurality of individual tackle receiving spaces separate and apart from a fish storage space, but which also incorporates a drawer and space therefor which latter is provided by a partitioning means whichmaintains the tackle-receiving portion of the device in predetermined separately and independently accessible. 1

Furthermore, the invention contemplates th provision of a main partition separating fish and hinge means common to the clos'ures'of both the fish and tackle compartments whereby duplication of hinges for'the latter is unnecessary.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from areadingofthe detailed descrip tion-of the now preferred example thereof which invention residing in certain novel features of the various parts as hereinafter claimed.

It is to be understoomhowever, that the par- It is,of course,

only durable so asto withstand rough usage, but

ticular example of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings is not to be taken as limitative beyond the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed, as it is obvious that various changes may be made in the structure shown, 5

view but showing fasteners 25, 21 in edge elevation 15 v and illustrating the bait box in dotted lines; 5 1 Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view; Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the rear of the device with the looped carrying strap pulled into the fish compartment out of the way, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view looking into the fish compartment with the closure open. I Referring specifically to the drawings, the container which is open at the top, is seen to comprise the end walls 5; front wall 6, rear wall I and the bottom wall 8. The rear wall I and the rear edge of the bottom wall 8, as shown in Figure 3,v are given a concavedform so as to more or less conform to the curve of the sideof the 30 body of the user when the device is slung from the latter's shoulder by the strap 9 which is passed through the holes ID in the rear wall I as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5.

The body of the device may be madeof diner 5 ent materials'whether relatively still or fiexible. desirable that the-material be not also that it bewaterproof. .A rubber-vulcanized fibrous material such as canvas maybe used to 40 "advantage as same is relatively light and being flexible enables a rear fish-receiving-compartment ll tobe provided which will lie snugly, and com-' 'fortably against the body of the user. However.

and-rubber composition may be used for the container body or for different portionsthereof.

' 'In carrying out the now preferred form of the invention. as shown in the drawings, the upper ends of the end-walls 5 are cut onshirts and '50 V dle "which is located intermediate the strap 'oli container embodying stiffer or more rigid material such as a molded-.45

This isdesirable in that it leaves receiving holes [0. Inasmuch as the container is of considerable width it would be somewhat inconvenient to carry the device if the handle I2 were midway between the front and rear walls 6, I; andalso such intermediate part of the container is open and adapted to be closed by closures l3, l4 to be more definitely referred to later on herein.

Handle l2 would be used when going to and from the fishing region, at which times the user might not be wearing his fishing clothes and would not want a wet or fishy smelling container hanging over his shoulder. At such times, the strap 9 can be simply pulled into the fish compartment without unfastening the buckle 9a.

The fish compartment II at the rear of the container and a tackle storage area at the front thereof are provided by a vertical partition I5 which is secured to the end and bottom walls 5, 8, respectively, at a point between the front wall 6 and rear wall I and substantially parallel with said front wall 6.

The tackle storage area is divided into a plurality of compartments by the horizontal partition IE and the two laterally spaced superjacent vertical partitions I1 which extend into the tackle storage area from vertical partition [5. Horizontal partition I6 is spaced parallel above the bottom 8 opposite an opening Gain the front wall to thereby accommodate a drawer l8 which is insertable through said front wall opening 6a. Said last mentioned partitions I6, ll are preferably secured to said vertical partition l5 and to the front wall 6; and the vertical partitions I! will also preferably be secured to the top surface of the horizontal partition I6. This provides, not only three open-'at-the-top tackle compartments l9, 20,.2I (which may be of different sizes) above the horizontal partition IE, but also provides a relatively rigid partition structure assembly embodying the first-mentioned main vertical partition [5 and partitions H for holding the tackle area of the container and its compartments in definite predetermined form even though the container be made of flexible material. Obviously said partition assembly lends strength to the device regardless of the particular material from which it is formed. Such partition structure would leave the fish compartment II more or less collapsible if the container is made of flexible material so as to substantially cushionagainst the users body whether it contains fish -or not. The partition struction therefore has a substantial two-fold advantage whether the container material is flexible or not; and when the container material is flexible the cushion-like fish compartment for disposition against the users body is a third advantage.

Still referring to the partition structure and especially to the first mentioned main vertical partition l5, it will be noted that it carries the pintle portions of leaf hinges or the equivalent 22; and that the hinge leaves 22a at one side carry former in place, and it is to be noted that there is a fish insertion opening l3a in the closure l3v so that fish can be inserted without opening,

closure l3. Cooperating fasteners 25, 2511 secured the tackle area closure member l4 and front wall of the container serve to hold such closure l4 closed.

A closure 26 hinged as at 26a to the fore portion of the bottom 8 of the container is arranged to swing up to close the drawer opening 6a in the front wall 6 so as to hold the drawer l8 in place; and such closure has cooperating fastening elements 21, 21a secured thereto and to the front wall 6.

As shown in the drawings, certain of the walls of the fish compartment ll may be perforated as at 28 so as to provide ventilation.

Especial attention is also invited to the fact that hinges 22 of closures l3 and I4 are carried by the vertical longitudinally extending partition [5 immediately adjacent the forwardly extending partitions IT, at which point such partition [5 is reinforced or sustained by partitions l1. That partitions I! do reinforce and sustain partition I5 is obvious because they are connected to the same andto horizontal partition I6 and also engage the front wall 6 of the container. Such reinforcement of partition l5 enables it to be made of comparatively light gauge material.

One of the smaller of the three one-at-thetop tackle compartments I9, 20, 2i, such as compartment 2|, is used for a bait receptacle'29. The larger mid-compartment 20 is available for relatively large tackle elements and the other smaller compartment IQ for smaller paraphernalia.

The drawer l8 may be suitably compartmented and used for hooks, flies, leaders, leads and the like and can, of course, be fully withdrawn if desired.

Regarding the looped carrying strap 9, it is to be noted that it can be readily gotten out of the way when not in use. Since the rear wall strap passage holes are near the top of the rear wall I, the looped strap 9 can be simply pulled inwardly without unfastening buckle 9d so that the major portion of the loop will sag down toward the bottom of the fish compartment II and by its weight maintain the exterior portion of the loop against the rear wall I, as indicated in Fig. 4.

Additionally it is to be observed that when the drawer opening closure 26 is swung outwardly it forms a continuation of the container bottom 8 to support the drawer IS in partially pulled out position.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is:

1. A combined fish and tackle container for fishermen comprising in combination, a body having front, rear, side and bottom walls, and open at the top, a longitudinally extending vertical partition connecting said side and bottom Walls between the front and rear walls whereby to provide a rear fish compartment extending the full height and length of the container and open at the top, said partition also providing a front tackle-receiving area in said container, means providing laterally spaced vertical partitions engaging said first-mentioned partition and abutting the front wall of the container whereby to reinforce the same and said first-mentioned partition and provide tackle-receiving compartments, separate swingable closures for said tackle and fish compartment portionsof said container, and a common hinge means for said closures carried by said first-mentioned partition adjacent the second-mentioned partitions, the latter serving to reinforce the first-mentioned partition at the site of said hinge means,

2 A combined fish and tackle container for fishermen comprising in combination, a body having front, rear, side and bottom walls, and open at the top, a longitudinally extending vertical partition connecting said side and bottom walls between the front and rear walls whereby to provide a rearlfish compartment extending the full height and length of the container and open. at the top, said partition providing a front tackle-receiving area in said container, a horizontal partition carried by the aforementioned vertical partition and bythe side and front walls of the container substantially parallel with the casing bottom and spaced therefrom whereby to provide subjacent drawer-receiving space, the front wall of said container having an opening registering with said space, adrawer insertible through said opening into said space, a closure hinged to the bottom of said container at the front edge thereof and movable to close said opening, said closure being adaptedto be opened out to provide an extension of the casing bottom to support the drawer when partially pulled out of its space, fastening means for said front opening closure, separate closures for said fish and tackle compartment, and a common hinge means for said closures carried by said vertical partition.

3. A combined fish and tackle container for fishermen comprising in combination, a body having front, rear, side and bottom walls, and open at the top, a longitudinally extending vertical partition connecting said side and bottom walls between the front and rear walls whereby to provide a rear fish compartment extending the full height and length of the container and open at the top, said partition also providing a front tackle-receiving area in said container, means providing laterally spaced vertical partitions engaging said first-mentioned partition and abutting the .front wall of the container whereby to reinforce the same and said first-mentioned partition and provide tackle-receiving compartments, separate swingable closures for said tackle and fish compartment portions of said container, a common hinge means for said closures carried by said first-mentioned partition adjacent the second-mentioned partitions, the latter serving to reinforce the first-mentioned partition at the site of said hinge means, and a looped carrying strap for said container, the rear wall of said container having laterally spaced holes adjacent the top through which said strap is adapted to be passed, whereby said strap is adapted to be pulled inwardly into said fish compartment without opening the loop and to sag down toward the bottom of the fish compartment when not in use.

4. A combined v fishermen comprising in combination, a body having front, rear, side and bottom wall members, and open at the top, a longitudinally extending vertical partition connecting said side and bottom walls between the front and rear walls whereby to provide a rear fish compartmentextending the full height and length of the container and open at the top, said partition providing a front tackle-receiving area in said container, a horizontal partition carried by the aforementioned vertical partition and by the side and front walls of the container substantially parallel with the casing bottom and spaced therefrom whereby to provide a subiacent drawer-receivingspace, the front wall of said container having an opening opposite saiddrawer- 1ccelvand tackle container for f ing space, a drawer insertible through said opening into said space, a closure hinged to the container bottom at the front edge thereof and movable to close saidopening whereby to hold said drawer in place, fastening means for said front openingclosure, means providing laterally spaced vertical partitions extending between the first mentioned vertical partition and the front wall of the container above said horizontal partition providing means being adapted to be secured to either the front wall or the first-mentioned vcrtical'partition and adapted to engage the other whereby to sustain the latter in position and provide at least three open-at-the-top compartments for bait and tackle above said horizontalv partition, oppositely swingable closures for said fish compartment and for said open-at-the-top compartments, leaf h nges common to both closures carried by said first-mentioned partition adjacent each of said second-mentioned vertical partitions whereby to operatively secure said closures' thereto, securing means for said closures, and a flsh insertion opening in said fish compartment closure.

5. A combined fish and tackle container for fishermen comprising in combination, a body having front, rear, side and bottom walls, and open at the top, the rear wall and rear edge of the bottom wall being concave to 'at least partially conform to the curve of the body of the user when suspended from hisshoulder, a looped carrying strap for said container, said rear wall having laterally spaced holes adjacent its top for the passage of said strap whereby the container can be slung from the user's shoulder,

a carrying handle secured to said ''rear wall adjacent the top thereof and approximately midway between its ends, and between said strapreceiving holes, a longitudinally extending vertical partition connecting said side and bottom walls between the front and rear walls whereby to provide a rear fish compartment extending the full height and length of the container and open at the top, at least certain ones of the side and rear walls of said fish compartment part of the container being apertured for ventilation pur-,

poses, said partition providing a front tackle-receiving area in said container, a horizontal partition carried by the aforementioned vertical partition and by the side and front walls of the container parallel with the casing bottom and spaced therefrom whereby to provide a subjacent drawer-recelving spaoepthe front wall of said container having an opening opposite said drawerreoeiving space, a drawer insertible through said openingrinto said space, a closure hinged to the container bottom at the front edge thereof and movable to close said opening whereby to .hold said drawer in place, fastening means for said front opening closure, laterally spaced vertical partitions-extending between the first-mentioned vertical partition and the front wall of the container above said horizontal partition and secured to the latter and to the front wall and firstmentioned vertical partition whereby to sustain the latter in position and provide at least three open-at-the-top compartments for bait. and tackle above said horizontal partition, opposite- 1y swingable closures for said fish compartment and for said open-at-the-top compartments, leaf hingescommon to both closures carried by said first-mentioned partition adjacent each of said second-mentioned vertical partitions whereby to operatively secure and closures thereto. securing means for said closures, and a fish insertion opening in said fish compartment. v

6. A combined fish and tackle container for fishermen comprising in combination a body having front, rear, side and bottom walls, and open at the top, a longitudinally extending vertical partltlon connecting said side and bottom walls between the front and rear walls whereby to provide a rear fish compartment extending the full height and length of the container and open at the top, said partition providing a front tackle-receiving area in said container, a horizontal partition carried by the aforementioned vertical partition and by the side and front walls of the container substantially parallel with the casing bottom and spaced therefrom whereby to provide subjacent drawer-receiving space, the front wall of said container having an opening registering. with said space, a drawer insertible through said opening into said space, separate closures for said fish and tackle compartment, and a common hinge means for said closures carried by said vertical partition.

7. A combined fish and tackle container for fishermen comprising in combination, a body having front, rear, side and bottom walls, and open at the top, the rear wall and rear edge of the bottom wall being concave to at least partially conform to the curve of the body of the user when suspended from his shoulder, partition means dividing said container into a rear fish compartment and a front tackle compartment, a looped carrying strap for said container, said rear wall having laterally spaced holes adjacent its top for the passage of said strap whereby the container can be swung from the user's shoulder, the major portion of said strap being adapted to be pulled into the fish compartment and held therein by its own weight when not in use and without unfastening same, and a carrying handle secured to said rear wall intermediate said top holes.

WILLIAM E. SMITH. IRVINE J. FOCHT. 

